Brooke Tufts Wins Third Senior Title at 2025 National Solo Dance Final
Monday, September 15, 2025 marked a historic day for figure skating as Brooke Tufts claimed her third senior title at the 2025 National Solo Dance Final in Salt Lake City, Utah. Competing for North Jersey FCS, Tufts delivered an emotional performance in her swan song that renewed her spot atop the podium after a two-year absence from the senior combined event.
Continuing the excitement, Violet Yan from Washington FSC inscribed her name in the history books by securing gold in the junior combined event, marking her first win at this prestigious final.
Tufts finished with an impressive total score of 198.03. Opening her rhythm dance to “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’,” she skillfully executed a Level 4 spread eagle edge element and later earned a program-high 11.97 points for her sequence, resulting in a segment score of 81.52. Her free dance showcased a captivating rendition of “Swan Lake,” where she received high marks as well, particularly for a thrilling element combination that netted 14.50 points.
Meanwhile, Amal Israilova made waves by defending her title in the international solo pattern dance, accumulating a total of 195.25 points. Trailing closely was Lucas Appel, who finished with a total score of 195.12, displaying extraordinary consistency across performances.
The junior combined event welcomed new names on the podium as well. Yan’s score of 155.71 overshadowed her closest competitors, earning her the inaugural Sasha Kirsanov Trophy, a tribute to a departed figure skating legend.
In the gold solo pattern dance event, first-time medalist Jessica Burns from Ann Arbor FSC dazzled the crowd to secure gold with a score of 58.20, while Milena Autero won silver for her impressive first-time appearance. The excitement continued in the gold-international shadow dance event, where Mina Esfandiari and Shin Lei Case clinched gold in a competitive field.
The 2025 National Solo Dance Final displayed remarkable talent and dedication, promising an even brighter future for U.S. figure skating as skaters like Tufts gear up for life beyond the ice.
